Self-steering for toy vehicles



May 9, 1961 w. J. WEIGEL 2,983,074 I SELF-STEERING FOR TOY VEHICLES Filed June 26, 1958 INVENTOR. will/am J. wage! "m 78 ,QTTORNE United States Patent 9 2,983,074 SELF-STEERING FOR TOY VEHICLES William J. Weigel, 914 S. Catalpa, Pittsburg, Kans. Filed June 26, 1958, Ser. No. 744,855

6 Claims. (Cl. 46-213) This invention relates to improvements in mobile devices, particularly those provided with wheels, the primary advantages of such improvements being in the field of toys and the primary object being to render such toys self-steering through a novel braking arrangement that is inexpensive and simple, yet fully effective.

It is the most important object of the present invention to provide for self-steering in toy vehicles by use of braking means operable solely by proper manipulation of the toy by the child in complete absence of complicated and expensive mechanism for elfecting the braking action.

Another important object'of the present invention is to provide a steerable device that not only eliminates the necessity for skill and knowledge on the part ofthe child, but which is long lasting in that no detailed parts are included as a part of the brake, as for example, brake drums, levers, linkage and other mechanical components.

Still another important object of the present invention is to provide a toy which may be steered by braking certain of the wheels thereof through frictional engagement between such wheels along the side Walls thereof with a nonrotatable part of the toy disposed to become effective upon tilting of the steering wheels transversely of the axes of rotation thereof.

Other objects include important details of construction for rendering the principles above set forthpractical in numerous ways to suit the desires of the manufacturer and to adapt the self-steering feature to various types of toys or other mobile devices.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one type of toy vehicle embodying the self-steering improvements of the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, vertical, cross-sectional view through one of the wheels of the vehicle shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating another embodiment of the said self-steering principles;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another form of vehicle to which the self-steering principles may be applied;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of one wheel of a toy vehicle showing another modification of the instant invention, parts being broken away for clearness; and

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of the steering mechanism of still another embodiment, parts 'being'broken away and in section for clearness.

This is a continuation-in-part of my now abandoned application, Serial No. 680,365, filed August 26, 1957, entitled Self Steering for Toy Vehicles.

As. will hereinafter appear, the nature and form of body 10 in the toywchosen for illustration in Fig. 1, is of no particular consequence. Body 10 is supported by a pair of rear wheels 12 and a pair of front wheels 14 through the medium of horizontal pins or the like 16, serving as axles for rotation of such ground-engaging 2 wheels about horizontal axes. Crossbars or bolster mounts 18 and 20 are provided for wheels 12 and 14 respectively, and it is into the ends of such crossbars or bolsters 18 and 20 that the pins 16 are driven, as best seen in Fig. 2. The rear crossbar 18 is rigid to the body 10, but crossbar '20 is horizontally swingable with respect. tothe body 10 by virtue of the provision of a vertical kingpin 22.

In accordance with the principles of the instant invention, each of the two front wheels 14 is loosely carried by. its axle 16 for tilting movement transversely of its axis of rotation as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. To this end, bore 24 through each wheel 14 respectively, is slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of its supporting axle 16. g

A downwardly projecting, substantially triangular braking element 26, preferably integral with the crossbar 20, is provided for each wheel 14 respectively, presenting therefore, vertical faces or surfaces 28 alongside the inner faces of the wheels 14 perpendicular to the axes of the axles 16. The surfaces28 depend from the axles 16a suificient distance toengage with inner side walls 30 of the front wheels 14 when the latter are tilted in the manner illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. Manifestly, therefore, when either of the wheels .14 comes in engagement with the proximal surface 28, such wheel is braked, retarding or stopping rotation thereof, while the frontwheel 14 continues to. rotate freely.

Consequently, as the vehicle shown in Fig. l is ad'- vanced while one of the front wheels 14 is thus braked, crossbar 20 will swing accordingly about the vertical axis of kingpin 22, thereby steering the vehicle and causing the same to turn in one direction. Braking of the 0pposite front wheel 14 will cause the vehicleto turn in the opposite direction.

The tilting action alternately in the two front wheels 14-14 is easily effected by the child simply by grasping the body 10 and turning the same horizontally in the direction the child wishes the toy to move. It has been found that such action comes rather naturally to most children and when body 10 is grasped as the child crawls on thefloor, the front crossbar 20 will swing in both directions rather easily as the direct result of the tendency on the part of the child to guide the front end of body 10 in the direction which he desires the toy to move.

It is to be pointed out that the horizonal turning moment imparted to the body 10 by the child, is quite adequate to cause the wheels 1-4 to tilt as shown in Fig. 2 without any necessity for the child to actually tilt the body 10.

It is clear from the drawing that when one wheel 14 is tilted toward its proximal surface 28, the other front wheel is tilted in the opposite direction away from its braking surface 28 and, therefore, the last-mentioned wheel is free to rotate and thereby carry the crossbar 20 or swing the latter about the kingpin 22.

Noteworthy also is the fact that the action abovedescribed, depends in part upon frictional engagement of the wheels with the floor or ground, and such is nate urally enhanced by the tendency of the child to bear down on the body 10 as he grasps the same intermediate the ends thereof and moves the vehicles in a fore. or aft direction.

The description of the operation above set forth is by way of example only, and much the same effect can be attained if a pulling cord is tied to the forwardmost end of the body '10. In that instance, the tendency of the child to pull the vehicle laterallyin either direction off a straightforward course, will automatically effect the self-steering, provided that there is enough inherent weight Patented May 9,.

opposite in the toy to prevent undue slipping of the wheels laterally along the supporting surface.

While in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 the rear crossbar 18 is rigid to the body 10 as aforementioned, it is now obviousthat the front-steering assembly 14-20-- 14 could be duplicated in the assembly 121812, if desired. Manifestly, the kingpins 22 may be spaced sufficiently to permit both crossbars 18 and 20 to rotate a full 360 degrees and, in that event, the toy could be completely collapsed for housing in a relatively small package.

In Fig. 3 of the drawing, it becomes apparent that axle 32 for wheel 34 might well be an integral part of crossbar 36, but in this embodiment, bore 38 receives the axle 32 rather snugly. Any suitable fastening means 40 may be provided on the axle 32 to retain wheel 34 thereon.

In the embodiment of Fig. 3, there is illustrated a brake element 44 functioning in the same manner as element 26 when inner side wall 46 comes into frictional engagement with vertical surface 50.

Wheel 34 is made from rubber or other resilient material; therefore, it tilts against the brake element 44 because of its inherent flexible properties, effecting the steering action in much the same manner as in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 of the drawing illustrates the way in which the same principles may be applied to a toy having a body composed of a pair of sections 52 and 54 that are articulated through use of a kingpin 56 which is preferably disposed in a direct alignment with front bolster or crossbar 58. Bolster 58 is rigid to the body section 54 as is the rear bolster 60 with respect to body section 52. Both front wheels 62 may be provided with braking means as shown in Fig. 2 or steering may be effected as in Fig. 3.

In Fig. there is illustrated an embodiment wherein braking may be effected for the two front steerable wheels of a toy or the like by engagement with the outer surface of wheel 64 adjacent its periphery. Here again, wheel 64 is tiltable about its axle 66, which in turn may be carried by a suitable mount 68. A substantially C- shaped element 70 shown in Fig. 5 as an integral part of the mount 68, is disposed in overlying relationship to the wheel 64, terminating in a braking element 72 having a vertical surface 74 that is disposed to frictionally engage the outer face of wheel 64-. Manifestly, when a pair of front wheels of a toy or the like are each equipped with a braking element 72, as shown in Fig. 5, and the mount 68 attached to a body for horizontal swinging movement, self-steering will be effected as the front wheels 64 alternately engage their corresponding proximal braking surfaces 74. i

Manifestly, the ideas of Fig. 5, including axle 66, may be employed in Fig. 4 if desired, in lieu of bolster 58.

In Fig. 6 of the drawing, there is illustrated the emhodiment chosen in my aforementioned copending application to illustrate the principles of the instant invention. In this instance, a front mount or bolster, broadly designated by the numeral 76, is provided for wheels 78. Wheels 78 turn freely on their axles 80, the latter of which rotate freely in their bearings 82 and 84. Suflicient play is provided to permit wheels 78 to tilt transversely of their axes of rotation toward and away from vertical braking surfaces 86.'

Wheels 78 swing horizontally about separate kingpins 88 which attach frames 90 to body 92. Frames 90 are pivotally interconnected by cross-link 94. The kingpins 88 may be offset intermediate the ends thereof so that the axes of axles 80 intersect the axes of the corresponding kingpins 88.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mobile device, an elongated body; a pair of elongated, spaced mounts carried by the body between the ends of the latter and disposed thereon substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof, one of said mounts being swingably mounted on said body for rotation relative thereto about a vertical axis; a pair of ground-em gaging, body-supporting wheels for each mount and being rotatably mounted on the respective mount at the opposed ends of the latter, the wheels on said one mount being mounted for tilting movement transverse to the longitudinal axis of said body, the latter adapted to be urged laterally in opposed transverse directions as the same moves longitudinally; and means on said one mount at each end thereof and engageable with the corresponding wheel for braking the latter and thereby swinging said one mount to alter the direction of longitudinal movement of said body responsive to urging the same laterally in one of said transverse directions and the subsequent tilting of said last-mentioned wheel in the same transverse direction, said means including a surface engageable with the wheel at points on the latter radially and concentrically spaced from the axis of rotation thereof.

2. In a mobile device, an elongated body; a pair of elongated, spaced mounts carried by the body between the ends of the latter and disposed thereon substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof, one of said mounts being swingably mounted on said body for rotation relative thereto about a vertical axis; a pair of ground-engaging, body-supporting wheels for each mount, each of said wheels being provided with an opening therethrough at the center thereof; pin means carried by each mount at the opposed ends thereof and disposed within said openings for rotatably mounting said wheels on said mounts, the pin means on said one mount being loosely received within the openings of the corresponding wheels to permit the latter to tilt in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of said body, the latter adapted to be urged laterally in opposed transverse directions as the same moves longitudinally; and means on said mount at each end thereof and engageable with the corresponding wheel thereon for braking the latter and thereby swing ing said one mount to alter the direction of longitudinal movement of said body responsive to urging the same laterally in one transverse direction and the subsequent tilting of said last-mentioned wheel in the same transverse direction, said means including a vertical surface engageable with the wheel at points on the latter radially and concentrically spaced from said opening therein.

3. In a mobile device as set forth in claim 2, wherein said onemount is normally horizontally disposed and each of said wheels is provided with a pair of opposed faces, said braking means at each end of said one mount comprising a projection rigid to the mount and being provided with a bearing surface frictionally engageable with one face of the corresponding wheel.

4. In a mobile device as set forth in claim 3, wherein each of said projections on said one mount depend from the latter and said surface of each projection is engageable with said one face of the corresponding wheel when the lower portion of the wheel moves toward said one mount.

5. In a mobile device as set forth in claim 3, wherein each of said projections is disposed uprightly on said one mount and the bearing surface thereof is disposed above the opening in the corresponding wheel.

6. In a mobile device, an elongated body; a pair of elongated, spaced mounts carried by the body between the ends of the latter and disposed thereon substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis thereof, one of said mounts being swingablymounted on said body for rotation relative thereto about a vertical axis; a pair of ground-engaging, body-supporting wheels for each mount and being rotatably mounted on the respective mount at the opposed ends of the latter, the wheels on said one mount being of a resilient material, said body adapted to be urged laterally in opposed, transverse directions as the 5 6 same moves longitudinally to thereby flex said wheels on eluding a surface engageable with the wheel atpoints said one mount for tilting movement of the last-menon the latter radially and concentrically spaced from the tioned wheels transverse to the longitudinal axis of the axis of rotation thereof. body; and means on said one mount at each end thereof and engageable with the corresponding wheel for braking 5 References Clted 111 the file 0f thls Pawnt the latter and thereby swinging said one mount to alter the direction of longitudinal movement of said body UNITED STATES PATENTS responsive to urging the same laterally in one transverse 1,I54,322 Klein Sept. 21, 1915 direction and the subsequent tilting of said last-mentioned 2,216,497 McHenry Oct. 1, 1940 wheel in the same transverse direction, said means in- 10 2,501,206 Brackett Mar. 21, 1950 

